A "ROAD rage" motorist shunted a cyclist three times and knocked him into the road, a jury was told.

Neil Gummery was driving to a football match when he came across Eric Gorton and two friends on a 50-mile Sunday ride.

Rhona Campbell, prosecuting at Worcester Crown Court, said he became upset at seeing the leading pair two abreast and drove "very badly indeed", ramming Mr Gorton's cycle as he rode through the hamlet of Abbotswood, near Pershore.

Mr Gorton told the court the shunts in quick succession knocked him off, but he got to his feet to have words with the driver.

"He then drove at me while I was in front of his vehicle," he said. "I was knocked on to the bonnet and back on to the road.

"I was very shocked and trying to get up when he began to drive again. I thought he would run over my legs but he turned and avoided myself and the bike and drove off."

Mr Gorton managed to ride 10 miles to a cafe in Fladbury, but could go no further because of an ankle injury. His wife had to drive him home.

He suffered a chipped bone and needed hospital treatment. He was unable to walk or cycle for two months and was still in pain a year later.

Gummery, aged 31, of Vincent Road, off Wyld's Lane, Worcester, denies dangerous driving and assaulting Mr Gorton causing him actual bodily harm.

"This is an incident of road rage. The victim was knocked from his bike and deliberately run into by the defendant," said Miss Campbell.

She said Gummery accepted he was the driver on March 12 last year but disputed it was his fault. He insisted Mr Gorton made contact with the car after putting on his bike brakes.

Mr Gorton, a keen cyclist for 30 years and a member of a Malvern club, was riding with Derek Burnage and Henry Walker when the incident took place around 10.30am after they pulled out to overtake a pedestrian walking his dog.

"The car appeared on my right shoulder, swerving inwards on me and causing me to lose balance," he said.

The Ford Orion then stopped ahead and he felt shunts against his mudguard after he overtook the vehicle.

The trial continues.